Adjustable guide holder assembly

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a novel power adjustable guide holder or support for a bar and tube straightening machine. A lower guide holder or support assembly includes an elongated strong base unit comprising a centrally hollow base plate and an integral elongated housing supporting operating parts. A power adjustable cover is disposed over the elongated housing and includes on the top thereof a tapered skewed groove which receives and retains against accidental removal a guide, the upper edge of which is adapted to be engaged by a bar, tube, or the like, being straightened by the machine. The over also prevents scale, coolant, and other foreign matter from falling into and jamming the mechanical operating structure within the guide holder assembly. Hydraulic motors within the housing are selectively actuatable to rotate vertical threaded shafts carrying rider nuts for raising and lowering the ends of the cover to adjust the positions of the retained guides. The elongated base unit is a structural member of sufficient strength to resist the turning forces of a bar as it goes through the machine on top of the guide and yet is narrow enough so that the guide holder does not interfere with the rolls of the machine. The top of the cover is wide enough to permit the skewing of the guide retaining groove, thereby giving additional clearance in respect to the rolls.

United States Patent Siegerist 1 Dec. 19, 1972 ADJUSTABLE GUIDE HOLDER ASSEMBLY [72] Inventor: Walter L. Siegerist, Saint Louis, Mo.

[73] Assignee: Meeco lnc., Saint Louis, Mo.

[22] Filed: Nov. 23, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 91,758

2,163,669 6/1939 Didden ..72/98 3,533,257 10/1970 Aldred ..72/99 3,406,553 10/1968 Gross et al ..72/250 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 741,042 12/1932 France ..72/250 Primary Examiner-Richard J. Herbst Attorney-Rogers, Ezell, Eilers & Robbins [5 7 ABSTRACT There is disclosed a novel power adjustable guide holder or support for a bar and tube straightening machine. A lower guide holder or support assembly includes an elongated strong base unit comprising a centrally hollow base plate and an integral elongated housing supporting operating parts. A power adjustable cover is disposed over the elongated housing and includes on the top thereof a tapered skewed groove which receives and retains against accidental removal a guide, the upper edge of which is adapted to be engaged by a bar, tube, or the like, being straightened by the machine. The over also prevents scale, coolant, and other foreign matter from falling into and jamming the mechanical operating structure within the guide holder assembly. Hydraulic motors within the housing are selectively actuatable to rotatevertical threaded shafts carrying rider nuts for raising and lowering the ends of the cover to adjust the positions of the retained guides. The elongated base unit is a structural member of sufficient strength to resist the turning forces of a bar as it goes through the machine on top of the guide and yet is narrow enough so that the guide holder does not interfere with the rolls of the machine. The top of the cover is wide enough to permit the skewing of the guide retaining groove, thereby giving additional clearance in respectto the rolls.

13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3,706,214

sum 2 M 3 ADJUSTABLE GUIDE HOLDER ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field Of The Invention The present invention relates generally to the bar and tube straightening machine art, and more particularly to a novel power adjustable guide holder or support structure for a bar, tube, and the like straightening machine.

2. Description Of The Prior Art Bar, tube, and the like, straightening machines have been made since prior to the turn of the century. Many improvements have been developed in such machines. However, until the present invention, ready positive vertical adjustment of the guide holders carrying the guides which hold bars and tubes in position in passing between the rollers of the machine has been extremely difficult and sometimes impossible. Guide holder assemblies presently in use are open to falling scale, coolant, and other foreign matter that develop in the straightening operation. Such foreign matter gets into and jams the operating parts of the guide holder assembly adjustment. Sometimes the mechanism jams against all movement. Problems involving clearance between the guide holder assembly and the rolls of the machine exist with presently employed structures. The present novel powered structure solves the long existing problems enumerated above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present novel power guide holder or support assembly for straightening machines is adapted for holding a lower guide or an upper guide and comprises an elongated structural base unit including a centrally hollow, heavy base plate and integral elongated housing.

An elongated cover fits over the housing for vertical adjustment in respect thereto, the cover including on its top a tapered skewed groove adapted to receive and retain a guide. Located in the housing and hollow of the base are hydraulic motors and mechanical means operated thereby for selectively, independently, or together, raising and lowering the ends of the housing in respect to the base for accurately positioning the retained guide. The cover protects the hydraulic motors and the adjustment mechanism against destructive scale, coolant, and other foreign matter. Control and power means are provided for selectively actuating the hydraulic motor.

Objects of the present invention are to provide a novel preferably powered guide holder assembly for straightening machines which is adjustable vertically for properly positioning the guide retained thereby, which is constructed for full protection of the working parts of the adjustment mechanism to insure long, trouble-free operation thereof in quickly and accurately moving the retained guide into proper position for receiving a bar, tube, or the like, in the straightening operation, which is constructed to lend adequate clearance between the guide holder assembly and the opposed roll assemblies of the straightening machine, which is structurally strong, and which otherwise fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front end view of a bar and tube straightening machine incorporating the present novel power adjustable guide holder;

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof, looking from right to left in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged exploded view of the present novel power adjustable guide holder, portions being diagrammatic; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic layout of a hydraulic system for adjusting the position of the upper and lower guide holders horizontally and vertically.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, 20 indicates generally a bar and tube straightening machine of the two roll, two m'otor type made by the assignee of this application and sold under its Meeco trademark. The machine 20 in cludes a concave roll assembly 21 at one side and a straight roll assembly 22 at the other side, see assignees US. Pat. No. 3,389,589 for greater detail. Below and between the roll assemblies 21 and 22 is a lower guide holder or support assembly 24 removably receiving a lower guide 25. Above and between the roll assemblies 21 and 22 is an upper guide holder or support assembly 26 removably receiving an upper guide 27.

With particular reference to FIGS. 3-5, the lower guide support assembly 24 includes an elongated strong base casting or machined unit 29 serving as a structural member, including a heavy base plate 30 of the illustrated configuration which rests on a flat scale guard plate 31 supported by an elongated plate 32 in turn supported by the base 33 of machine 20. Integral with and above the base plate 30 is an elongated strong housing 35 having vertically arcuate ends 36. The base plate 30 and scale guard plate 31 are maintained in selected adjusted position on the plate 32 and the machine base 33 by a clamp 37 engaging each end of the base plate 30 which are secured by bolts 34 extending through aligned apertures in the clamps 37 and the plate 32 and threadedly engaging threaded apertures in the machine base 33 (FIGS. 3 and 5). The ends of the base plate 30 and of the scale guard plate 31 are curved or arcuate horizontally at 38 and 39, respectively, which permit horizontal adjustment of the assembly 24 and plate 21.

The base plate 30 includes a longitudinally extending bottom hollow portion 40 which is closed by the scale guard plate 31. Opening into the hollow portion 40 are vertical annular bores 41, 42, 43 and 44 formed in the housing 35. Each of the bores 41 and 44 is of multidiameter and securely receives at top and bottom a thrust bearing 46, which may be roller bearing, as shown in FIG. 5, ball bearing, bronze, or other type. Mounted in each pair of spaced thrust bearings 46 is a shaft 47 of the configuration shown in FIG. 5, including an upper threaded portion 48, an annular flange 49 which engages the upper thrust bearing 46, a cylindrical portion 50 rotatable in the upper and lower bearings 46, a reduced annular portion 51 adapted to receive a sprocket, and a cotter pin aperture 52. A rider nut 53 of the configuration shown in FIG. including an arcuate top portion is threadedly mounted on each threaded portion 48. A stop plate 54 is mounted between each rider nut 53 and its associated flange 49, being supported in the cover as detailed below. Secured to the annular portion 51 of each shaft 47 and within the hollow portion 40 is a driven sprocket 55. Cotter pins, or the like, through the openings 52 prevent dropping of the sprockets 55 should one or the other become loose.

Supported above each of the bores 42 and 43 in a saddle 60 formed in the housing 35 is a conventional reversible orbit type hydraulic motor 61, such as that made by Char Lynn Co., or the like. Rotatably mounted in each bore 42 and 43 by means of a ball bearing unit 62, orthe like, is a hollow cylindrical shaft 63, the lower end of which extends into the hollow portion 40 and receives secured thereto a sprocket 64. Depending into and secured to the hollow upper end of each shaft 63 is the rotor of the associated motor 61, whereby the sprocket 64 is driven. A chain 66 is trained about each pair of sprockets 55, 64, an idler sprocket 67 mounted in the hollow portion 40 taking up chain slack. Parallel links 68 are shown in FIG. 5 pinned to the base plate 30 which are hydraulically actuated to move selectively the unit 29 laterally horizontally.

A cover 72 is mounted over the housing 35 and on the base plate 30 for vertical adjustment in respect thereto. As shown, the cover 72 includes an elongated main body 73 of inverted U cross section, including a top wall 74 and parallel side walls 75 which slide along the sides of the housing 35. Opposed channels 76 in the interior surfaces of the walls 75 at the ends thereof supportingly receive the above-described stop plates 54, which maintain the cover 72 in operative adjusted position, the plates 54 being adjacent the arcuate bottoms of the rider nuts 53. Inset end plates 77 are removably secured in position by suitable screws or bolts, as indicated. There are outwardly extending flanges 78 along the bottom of the side walls 75 which strengthen the latter. A pocket 80 off-center longitudinally is formed in each side wall 75 adjacent a hydraulic motor 61 which provides room for hydraulic connections thereto. Formed in the top wall 74 is a tapered groove or channel 81, which runs the length of the cover 72 and receives and holds the lower guide 25. A block adjustment 82 at the rear of the channel 81 limits rearward movement of a guide 25. The channel 81 is disposed at an angle to or is skewed in respect to the longitudinal centerline of the cover 72. Consistent with present practice, the bottom of the channel 81 decreases in width from the bar input or entrance end of the guide support assembly 24 to the output or exit end. The base portion of a suitable size guide 25 is of complementary form and will slide into the channel 81 and be locked therein against accidental removal by means of the tapered or upwardly converging walls and the decreasing width of the bottom of the channel 81. Secured at each end of the inside face of the top wall 74 by bolts, or the like, is a wear plate 83, which are engaged by the arcuate top portions of the rider nuts 53.

The upper guide holder or support assembly 26 is basically identical with the above described lower guide holder assembly 24, and the same reference numerals heretofore used in detailing the latter are applied to the same parts of the former. The mounting varies, of course, by virtue of the positions thereof. A cover plate 85 is provided for protecting the mechanisms in the hollow portion 40, which is narrower than the comparable plate 31, but is of substantially the same thickness. For maintaining the upper cover 72 against the upper base plate 30, two centrally located strong concentric tension springs 86 and 87 engage a cup member 88 at one end and the plate 85 at the other end. A heavy shaft 90 disposed centrally of the springs 86 and 87 has a threaded upper end extending through the cup member 88 and is adjustably maintained in position by anut 91, or the like. Atits lower end the shaft 90 has an aperture 92 receiving a strong nut and bolt assembly 93, or the like, which also extends through aligned apertures in the walls 75 of the cover 72 (FIG. 4). Thus, the springs 86 and 87 constantly draw the cover 72 towards, for ultimate contact with, the base plate 30.

In FIG. 6 is diagrammatically shown a hydraulic system for actuating the hydraulic motors 61 for selectively raising or lowering either or both ends of the guide support assemblies 24 and 26 and for selective horizontal adjustment thereof. Other systems may be employed. Lower and upper conventional stack valves and 101, such as those made by Vickers, Inc., are provided for the lower and upper guide support assemblies 24 and 26, respectively. A motor driven hydraulic pump 102 and a reservoir 103 of fluid are provided. A fluid line 105 conveys operative fluid at proper pressure to and through the stack valves 100 and 101. Considering the vertical adjustment hydraulic motors 61 in FIG. 6 to be in the same relative positions as illustrated in FIG. 3, fluid lines 106 provide fluid to the lower left hand motor 61; fluid lines 108 provide fluid to the lower right hand motor 61; fluid lines 1 10 provide fluid to the upper left hand motor 61; and fluid lines 112 provide fluid to the upper right hand motor 61. Levers 114, 115, 116 and 117, respectively, control flow of fluid in fluid lines 106, 108, and 112. It will be understood from the foregoing and the drawings that operative movement of a selected lever 114-117 will efi'ect up or down movement of the desired rider nut 53 to similarly, directly or indirectly, cause movement of the required end of the assemblies 24 and 26. The adjustment is positive, certain and quickly accomplished.

Also shown are hydraulic motors 120 similar to the hydraulic motors 61 for power adjusting the lower and upper guide support assemblies 24 and 26 horizontally. Fluid lines 122 and 124 supply operating fluid to the motors 120 for the lower guide support assembly 24 under the control of levers 126 and 127, respectively. Fluid lines 128 and 130 supply operating fluid to the motors 120 for the upper guide support assembly 26 under the control of levers 132 and 133, respectively. It will be understood that the motors 120 actuate mechanical structures for effecting lateral adjustment of the guide holder assemblies 24 and 26, and that either end can be moved separately.

It is manifest that the disclosed invention attains the objects and advantages sought.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing have been given by way ofillustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes in form of the elements, rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalent elements, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In a bar-type straightening machine: a base structure including an upstanding housing device, a cover mounted on the base structure for movements up and down on the base structure, the cover overlying the housing device, and having wall means depending alongside the housing device such that materials falling down onto the cover are deflected from the housing device; a guide holding means on the top of the cover to receive and guide a bar, tube or like member; and means in the housing device for raising and lowering the cover, and hence the guide holding means, with respect to the base structure.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said guide holding means comprises an upwardly opening groove in the top of said cover member, said groove being of generally U-form in cross section with upwardly converging walls and being disposed horizontally askew longitudinally of the top.

3. The combination of claim 1 including power means in the housing device for vertically adjusting said cover member, and control means outside the housing device for regulating operation of the power means.

4. The combination of claim 3 in which said power means includes separate and independently operable power means for vertically adjusting each end of said cover member.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which each independently operable power means includes a hydraulic motor within said base structure, mechanical means within said base structure energizable by said hydraulic motor for raising an end of said cover, said motor and mechanical means being beneath said cover, and means for energizing said hydraulic motor.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which said mechanical means includes a rider nut engaging said cover, a threaded rotatably mounted vertical shaft receiving said rider nut, a sprocket secured to said shaft, a sprocket operatively connecting to said hydraulic motor for rotation thereby, and a chain connecting said sprockets for selective movement of said rider nut by said hydraulic motor.

7. In combination with a bar and tube straightening machine including a pair of cooperative rollers, a lower guide support assembly, an upper guide support assembly, said assemblies being operatively integrated with said machine and said rollers, the assemblies projecting toward each other, each of said assemblies including a base having a base portion and a housing device projecting from the base portion outwardly toward the other base portion, each housing operatively receiving and supporting moving parts, and a cover member mounted on each base and enshrouding the projecting housing on its sides and outward portions, thereby protecting said moving parts therein from scale and other contaminants, said cover of said lower assembly supporting a lower guide, and said cover of said u er assembl su orti an u e uide.

g. The combina l on o claim in which said cover members are adjustable for positioning supported guides to operatively receive bars, tube and the like, being processed by said machine, and the moving parts in the housing device comprise power means for vertically adjusting said lower cover member, and power means for vertically adjusting said upper cover member. 7

9. The combination of claim 8 and including means biasing at least one of said cover members and its supported guide towards said base cooperative with said power adjustment means.

10. The combination of claim 8 in which each power adjusting means includes hydraulic motors within said base, means for energizing said hydraulic motors and mechanical means in said base actuatable by said hydraulic motors for effecting raising and lowering of said covers and guides.

11. The combination of claim 10 in which said mechanical means includes a rider nut at each end of said base, a threaded rotatably mounted vertical shaft receiving each rider nut, a sprocket on each shaft, a sprocket operatively connected to each hydraulic motor for rotation thereby, and a chair connecting said sprockets for selective movement of said rider nuts by said hydraulic motors.

12. In the machine of claim 1, the housing device having end walls and flat, elongated side walls, forming a blocklike mass projecting from the base portion, the cover having top, side and end walls, the side walls bearing on the side walls of the housing and the end walls engaging the end walls of the housing, the top wall overlying the top wall of the housing device, the end walls having curvature to permit raising and lowering of the ends of the cover.

13. In the machine of claim 7, means to adjust the angular position in a horizontal plane of the cover and guide means with respect to the path of movement of a work piece through the machine, the guides on the covers being askew with respect to the longitudinal dimension of the covers. 

1. In a bar-type straightening machine: a base structure including an upstanding housing device, a cover mounted on the base structure for movements up and down on the base structure, the cover overlying the housing device, and having wall means depending alongside the housing device such that materials falling down onto the cover are deflected from the housing device; a guide holding means on the top of the cover to receive and guide a bar, tube or like member; and means in the housing device for raising and lowering the cover, and hence the guide holding means, with respect to the base structure.
 2. The combination of claim 1 in which said guide holding means comprises an upwardly opening groove in the top of said cover member, said groove being of generally U-form in cross section with upwardly converging walls and being disposed horizontally askew longitudinally of the top.
 3. The combination of claim 1 including power means in the housing device for vertically adjusting said cover member, and control means outside the housing device for regulating operation of the power means.
 4. The combination of claim 3 in which said power means includes separate and independently operable power means for vertically adjusting each end of said cover member.
 5. The combination of claim 4 in which each independently operable power means includes a hydraulic motor within said base structure, mechanical means within said base structure energizable by said hydraulic motor for raising an end of said cover, said motor and mechanical means being beneath said cover, and means for energizing said hydraulic motor.
 6. The combination of claim 5 in which said mechanical means includes a rider nut engaging said cover, a threaded rotatably mounted vertical shaft receiving said rider nut, a sprocket secured to said shaft, a sprocket operatively connecting to said hydraulic motor for rotation thereby, and a chain connecting said sprockets for selective movement of said rider nut by said hydraulic motor.
 7. In combination with a bar and tube straightening machine including a pair of cooperative rollers, a lower guide support assembly, an upper guide support assembly, said assemblies being operatively integrated with said machine and said rollers, the assemblies projecting toward each other, each of said assemblies including a base having a base portion and a housing device projecting from the base portion outwardly toward the other base portion, each housing operatively receiving and supporting moving parts, and a cover member mounted on each base and enshrouding the projecting housing on its sides and outward portions, thereby protecting said moving parts therein from scale and other contaminants, said cover of said lower assembly supporting a lower guide, and said cover of said upper assembly supporting an upper guide.
 8. The combination of claim 7 in which said cover members are adjustable for positioning supported guides to operatively receive bars, tube and the like, being processed by said machine, and the moving parts in the housing device comprise power means for vertically adjusting said lower cover member, and power means for vertically adjusting said upper cover member.
 9. The combination of claim 8 and including means biasing at least one of said cover members and its supported guide towards said base cooperative with said power adjustment means.
 10. The combination of claim 8 in which each power adjusting means includes hydraulic motors within said base, means for energizing said hydraulic motors and mechanical means in said base actuatable by said hydraulic motors for effecting raising and lowering of said covers and guides.
 11. The combination of claim 10 in which said mechanical means includes a rider nut at each end of said base, a threaded rotatably mounted vertical shaft receiving each rider nut, a sprocket on each shaft, a sprocket operatively connected to each hydraulic motor for rotation thereby, and a chair connecting said sprockets for selective movement of said rider nuts by said hydraulic motors.
 12. In the machine of claim 1, the housing device having end walls and flat, elongated side walls, forming a blocklike mass projecting from the base portion, the cover having top, side and end walls, the side walls bearing on the side walls of the housing and the end walls engaging the end walls of the housing, the top wall overlying the top wall of the housing device, the end walls having curvature to permit raising and lowering of the ends of the cover.
 13. In the machine of claim 7, means to adjust the angular position in a horizontal plane of The cover and guide means with respect to the path of movement of a work piece through the machine, the guides on the covers being askew with respect to the longitudinal dimension of the covers. 